BEHDINAN – KCK Executive Council Member Mustafa Karasu, regarding the allegations that there will be meetings in Imrali and that there will be a family view, “No matter what anyone says, the source of this is MIT and AKP. AKP and MIT have been using this path for years. Every discourse and news about Rêber Apo is strictly for special war purposes.
The AKP government knows the great influence of Rêber Apo on the Kurdish people. For this reason, reports are always being made that Rêber Apo was contacted at times when the struggle intensified and the anger of the people, youth and women increased. Thus, it is desired that the struggle against the isolation and the freedom of Rêber Apo should be relaxed, and the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people on many fronts should be relaxed.”
Mustafa Karasu also drew attention to the following points: “Now, this government has made an alliance with all Kurdish enemies. This power is only struggled against. Rêber Apo’s stance and attitude and his approach to this government are like this.
The Kurdish problem in Turkey can only be solved by democratization. Apart from this, it is a mistake to think that the Kurdish problem will be resolved. It would be wrong not to understand the Kurdish problem in Turkey. The Kurdish problem in Turkey is not just any problem. It is not like any other problem in the world. First of all, the existence of such a problem is not accepted. Those who say they have such a problem are immediately silenced.”
KCK Executive Council Member Mustafa Karasu answered ANF’s questions:
NEWS ABOUT RÊBER APO IS FOR SPECIAL WAR PURPOSE
In a process where the isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan is getting worse day by day, some circles argue that there are talks in Imrali and that AKP-MHP fascism will take some steps in the Kurdish issue with these meetings. What is the purpose of making and discussing such allegations when there is no news about the health and safety of the Kurdish People’s Leader?
Recently, such allegations have been made. No matter who says it, the source of this is MIT and AKP. AKP and MIT have been using this path for years. Every discourse and news about Rêber Apo is strictly for special war purposes. Rêber Apo is not a prisoner. If a policy of oppression is applied to the Kurdish people and the Freedom Movement, this policy is also applied to Rêber Apo in prison conditions. Or, by looking at the approach to Rêber Apo, we can understand what kind of policy will be implemented on the Kurdish people. First of all, this fact should be known.
Currently, the AKP-MHP alliance is implementing a policy of genocide on the Kurdish people. All applications are for genocidal purposes. Kurds are being Turkified over time, and Kurdistan is intended to be the spreading area of Turkish nationhood. All the practices on the Kurds cannot be understood without understanding this policy.
RÊBER APO TAKES A stance that nullifies the PRIVATE WAR
A special war policy has been carried out on Rêber Apo for 24 years. Since Rêber Apo knows the reality of the Turkish state, he takes a stance that nullifies this special war. For this reason, we say that the biggest and most meaningful resistance in history was put forward in İmralı.
The AKP government knows the great influence of Rêber Apo on the Kurdish people. For this reason, reports are always being made that Rêber Apo was contacted at times when the struggle intensified and the anger of the people, youth and women increased. Thus, the struggle against isolation and the freedom of Rêber Apo should be relaxed, and the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people on many fronts should be relaxed. Such news appeared from time to time. But this time the timing is remarkable. It is in question that the guerrilla has put the Turkish army’s invasion operation into a dead end in the Medya Defense Areas. Our people are also embarking on a struggle around this self-defense resistance of the guerrilla. Saying “A family meeting will be held with Rêber Apo” in this environment is intended to create the perception that the AKP will make a change in its policies.
Undoubtedly, there is constant pressure on Rêber Apo. By going to Rêber Apo, the guerrilla and the Kurdish people are being forced to stop fighting. Since the leadership does not accept such impositions, a heavy isolation is imposed. Since 2011, he has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers except once. The interview will be held, and after the news came out, they gave a new disciplinary sanction, which was the reason for preventing the meetings with the lawyer and the family. Except for a few exceptions, he has not been allowed to meet with his family since the isolation that started on April 5th. Moreover, Rêber Apo has criticized the last family meeting, saying that if there will be such a meeting, if the lawyers will not come, why are you coming? Because Rêber Apo knows that such talks are intended to confuse and cover up the genocidal attacks on the Kurdish people.
In short, Rêber Apo needs to be contacted periodically with his lawyers and family. However, they are not allowed to meet with disciplinary punishments. Sometimes, it is aimed to create a perception as if the government’s approach to Rêber Apo is changing by making them meet for a special war. When this government is also anti-Kurdish and anti-democracy, it is desired to raise suspicion on Rêber Apo and confuse the democracy forces.
A columnist close to AKP-MHP fascism said that a meeting with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan could be arranged, and this is the subject of discussion between the Kurdish People’s Leader and the AKP that a process called “solution process” could begin in the past. Is it possible for the AKP government, which carries out all kinds of attacks on the Kurdish people and democracy forces, violent attacks in the Media Defense Areas, and occupies Rojava, to take any positive step in the Kurdish issue?
Due to the special war, there are cases where a visit is made every few years. It can happen again. It is wrong to give them another meaning; or to serve the purpose of special warfare. Such a severe isolation and not being able to meet with Rêber Apo not only do not receive a reaction from the Kurdish people, but there is also exposure to international democratic forces. From this point of view, we do not say that there is not necessarily a meeting. If private warfare is of use to him, he can arrange a meeting. However, no one should worry about this.
In fact, there was no solution process in the past. The AKP government aimed to gain time, to strengthen its own power in this process, to weaken the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people, and to impose a policy that extends the genocide over time. The Kurdish People’s Leader, on the other hand, aimed to strengthen the forces of democracy and to prepare the peoples of Turkey and the political forces of Turkey for a solution. The process in question passed in the effort and struggle of these two understandings. When the AKP government and the state bureaucracy saw that they could not achieve their goals, they prepared a Collapse Plan and they have turned to pressure and war policies in this direction since 2015. This policy still continues. They think of nothing but liquidating the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people. They can no longer turn to a policy of delay, even if it is a necessity of a private war.
THE ONLY FIGHTING AGAINST THIS POWER
We have never seen or defined the conflict-free processes that took place after 2006 as a solution process. We considered these processes as efforts to bring the AKP government and the state into the solution process. At that time, Rêber Apo expressed his doubts especially for Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP government. In other words, he believed that Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP would take a step towards the solution of the Kurdish problem, so he did not provide the processes of non-conflict. It mainly tried to create a solution ground and process by relying on the forces of democracy and the peoples of Turkey. This reality can be seen if the leadership’s defenses and meeting notes are well scrutinized. He even warned the lawyers, negotiating committees and HDP by predicting the current oppression processes. They will throw you all into dungeons, he said. He has made this warning over and over again. In this respect, in an environment where so much persecution is experienced, Rêber Apo does not take into account any discourse of this government. Because there is no such political ground and understanding. In 2006 and after, there was a government that received support from the society, political circles and democracy forces. Now, this government has made an alliance with all Kurdish enemies. This power is only struggled against. Rêber Apo’s stance and attitude and his approach to this government are like this.
KURDISH PROBLEM SOLVE BY DEMOCRATICATION
The Kurdish problem in Turkey can only be solved by democratization. Apart from this, it is a mistake to think that the Kurdish problem will be resolved. It would be wrong not to understand the Kurdish problem in Turkey. The Kurdish problem in Turkey is not just any problem. It is not like any other problem in the world. First of all, the existence of such a problem is not accepted. Those who say they have such a problem are immediately silenced. Everything is brought upon those who deviate from the classical genocidal policy of the state. This is why Turgut Özal was killed. Even Rêber Apo expressed that Özal did not fully understand the character of this question. They had doubts about how aware of this problem was going to happen to him and how well he would respond to future reactions. As a matter of fact, let’s let him take a step towards a solution; He paid with his life for even voicing such a problem indirectly.
undemocratic; not fighting for democratization; Those who do not rely on democratic political circles and democratic social segments cannot solve this problem. It would be naive to think that a government like AKP-MHP would do anything positive. In this respect, to think that the AKP government will take such a step would be to push the limits of reason. Especially in a period when they are completely focused on liquidation, they do not enter into any softening, even if it is due to a special war. There is neither such a will nor such a political environment. At that time, discussing as if AKP was talking to Rêber Apo and a process similar to the previous one could start is empty arguments that have nothing to do with reality. If there is only one positive side to be mentioned; The fact is that they inevitably put the existence of the Kurdish problem into discussion.
Let’s emphasize it again; A step to be taken in the Kurdish question can only be achieved through democratization. Those who solve this problem and those who want to solve it must be democratic. So, Tayyip Erdogan, does the AKP-MHP government have such a character? If the AKP takes a step towards the Kurdish issue, it will gain a democratic mentality and structure, so the AKP that will solve the Kurdish issue cannot remain the AKP of today. Even if the MHP takes a step towards solving the Kurdish problem, it will cease to be the current MHP. Because the character and solution of the Kurdish problem necessitates this. Therefore, nothing positive can be expected from Tayyip Erdoğan and his government regarding the Kurdish issue. On the contrary, this government will increase its oppression and oppression. Therefore, there is only a struggle against this mentality and power. This is the only way democratization and the resolution process of the Kurdish question can take place.
THE OPPOSITION FALLS IN THE AKP’S TRAP
The opposition system parties, which have not made a sound against the isolation, which has no legal basis, are in a position that discusses this issue the most. So, how accurately does the opposition approach and discuss this issue?
It is difficult to understand the opposition system parties and the media organs close to them. There is no rational and democratic approach. Some are making evaluations with delusions and concerns. This is also called waswas. He writes an article saying that the special war element of the government will be made to meet with the Rêber Apo family. In the face of this, those who are close to the opposition will almost campaign against meeting with Imrali. They constantly say that there is no justice, rights and law in Turkey and that the laws are not followed. However, laws have not been followed in Imrali for years; Although arbitrary practices are being made, no democratic attitude is shown against it. All kinds of pressure are applied to the Kurdish prisoners in the dungeons. There is no serious reaction. In short, when it comes to the Kurdish question and the Kurds, their tongues become halal, their ears do not hear, their eyes do not see. It’s called playing the 3 monkeys. However, if the opposition is to be consistent and democratic, or if it will not act with delusions, it should say why there are no family and lawyer meetings in Imrali. They should state that the meeting is a legal right. Instead, they fall into the AKP’s trap by using the MIT and AKP’s special war discourses. The AKP makes these groups advocate isolation; thus, it provides the emergence of the negative approach towards the dissidents among the Kurds.
AKP was going to initiate a solution process. AKP does not do such a thing. Therefore, if the opposition is to show its difference, it should say that there is a Kurdish problem and it must be resolved. AKP opposes it. Therefore, there will be more exposure among the AKP, the Kurds and the forces of democracy. They expose the AKP by voicing the AKP’s pressure on the Kurds. There are so many arrests, there is pressure on Kurdish language and culture; The smallest protest of the Kurdish people is violent. More pressure is applied. All this is done against the Kurds’ desire for freedom and democracy. Kurds are not recognized as a people. Instead of being exposed on these issues, the AKP is given credit as if the AKP could open up on the Kurdish issue. It seems that the opponents believe that the AKP will make an opening on the Kurdish issue. Injustice, anti-democratic practices,
RÊBER APO ENEMIES CANNOT SOLVE THE KURDISH PROBLEM
It is now everyone’s common assessment that the Kurdish people, their friends in the struggle and their representative political parties and institutions will play a key role in determining Turkey’s future in the upcoming period. So, in this context and in the context of the recent debates over Imrali, how realistic and adequate is the opposition’s approach to the Kurdish question?
If there is opposition to the AKP-MHP government today and this government has come to the point of collapse, it is the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people, especially the guerrillas, in every field that ensures this. Just as the struggle for democracy cannot develop without the struggle of the Kurdish people, democracy will not come to Turkey without solving the Kurdish problem. Democratization and the solution of the Kurdish problem are intertwined; these cannot be dealt with in isolation from each other in the reality of Turkey. In this respect, the approach to the Kurdish question is like a litmus paper for those who talk about democracy. In this, the approach to Rêber Apo is important. It is not possible to talk about a solution to the Kurdish problem without approaching Rêber Apo. The struggle of a people and the solution of its problem cannot be handled in isolation from its leaders. Those who do not approach this way cannot be sincere about democratization.
Rêber Apo is the one who proposes the most reasonable solution to the Kurdish problem. He is the one who wants the solution of the problem to be solved within the borders of Turkey and on the basis of democratization. He is the leader who enabled the development of this mentality among the Kurds. The 20th century does not find the statist solution based on the national liberation understanding correct. He is the one who tells every nation that it is correct and possible to solve the problems of all peoples within a state on the basis of a democratic nation understanding instead of a nation-state understanding. If there is no denial in the Kurdish genocide, if it is to be said that there is such a problem and it should be solved, the most correct and reasonable interlocutor is Rêber Apo. However, in Turkey, hostility is shown against Rêber Apo because you raised awareness of the Kurds, organized them, made them want identity, language, culture and freedom. Therefore, those who are hostile and opposed to Rêber Apo cannot solve the Kurdish problem. Being hostile to Rêber Apo because of why you did these things is denial; It is the understanding of not solving the Kurdish problem. In this respect, it is important to change the approach to Rêber Apo.
From the very beginning, Rêber Apo did not find the methods of Tayyip Erdoğan and AKP correct. If there is to be a solution, he wanted it to be brought to the parliament. Rêber Apo was the first to address the assembly in this regard. He was the first to say it. Since it did not put the Kurdish issue on the parliament’s agenda, it did not believe that the AKP had a solution understanding. Because the removal of denial is only possible by discussing the solution in the parliament. Rêber Apo neither believes nor accepts any solution approach that has not been brought to the parliament anymore. If there is to be a solution process, one of their first requests will be to request that this issue be brought to the parliament. Therefore, the opposition accepts the existence of the Kurdish problem and if there is a will for a solution, there is a Kurdish problem; He should say that we will solve this problem by taking it to the parliament.
THE Isolation by the opposition should be lifted, ABDULLAH ÖCALAN SHOULD SPEAK
The opposition’s saying that instead of showing these approaches, there is a meeting in İmralı, the AKP agreed with Abdullah Öcalan, Öcalan will take a stance so that the AKP stays in power, means that they do not have a solution approach to the Kurdish problem. In addition, these approaches also confirm the oppression and persecution of Rêber Apo. The ban on viewing in Imrali is legal and illegal, it is unfair. Therefore, what the opposition will say should be to lift the isolation and let Abdullah Öcalan speak. Everyone should know that if there has been isolation until now, it is the result of Rêber Apo’s opposition to all AKP policies. Shouldn’t the opposition want the isolation to be lifted, which will enable Rêber Apo to explain his stance against the AKP?
In the discussions, those who are close to the opposition say that the Kurds do not listen to Rêber Apo, as they do not show the right attitude. For this, they show the local election process as an example. Those who make such discussions should know that the Kurdish people listen to both Rêber Apo and the PKK. They reveal this every day with their rhetoric and attitude. If the Kurdish Freedom Movement had not followed a policy of losing the AKP as a whole in local elections, the AKP would have won again in big cities where Kurds are concentrated. It was the 3rd Way line and policy that made AKP lose. The Kurds are the most political people in the world; Rêber Apo gained this, too. Since the Kurds believe in the Rêber Apo line, they know well what is right and what is wrong. They now know what Rêber Apo’s stance is; On this basis, they are fighting against AKP-MHP fascism.
Everyone should know that with the 3rd Way line, the Kurds are not only fighting against a party and the government, but also against the anti-democratic mentality in Turkey and the structuring of the state on this basis. They are fighting against a system that is not democratic and libertarian. In this respect, the Kurds will play their role not for the continuation of this decaying system, but for its change. If the opposition will also play a historical role; If they do not want a government like AKP to come again, they should evaluate their relations with the Kurds in line with the democratization of the republic. Otherwise, the claims of democratization will be nothing more than a rhetoric.
BREAKING THE INSULATION IS THE DESTRUCTION OF AKP-MHP FASCIST POWER
HDP is the only opposition party in Turkey that has a solution project in the Kurdish issue and is persistent in the fight against isolation. How should the importance of HDP’s opposition be seen for Turkish politics, what are the effects and realities of the Gemlik march?
The Gemlik march was a revolt against the heavy isolation on Rêber Apo since April 5, 2015. If there were no heavy pressures and no barriers, hundreds of thousands could have met in Gemlik. Those who have been putting in place the heavy isolation since April 5 and persecuting this people for years have angered the Kurdish people and the forces of democracy. As a result of the anger crisis created by the Gemlik march, Süleyman Soylu, who is breathing through his nose every day, has been attacking the democracy forces, the HDP actively participating in this march, the press and artists since that day. The attacks after the Gemlik march revealed what the isolation in Imrali meant for the genocidal colonialists. Because the AKP-MHP fascist government has linked its existence and future to the war it wages against the Kurdish Freedom Movement. The end of the isolation in Imrali means the overthrow of the AKP-MHP fascist government. In fact, the real oppositional stance and action is revealed in the attitude against isolation. Because the pressures, restrictions, economic, political and social problems result from the reflection of Imralı-centered policies all over Turkey. In this respect, the real opposition in Turkey is those who are in a joint struggle with HDP and HDP.
The daily strikes of the guerrilla have put not only the occupying forces but also the government in a stalemate. When the people showed their attitude in the Gemlik march, this government increased its attack on HDP, the main opposition party. In addition to these attacks, they also lied about meeting with İmralı in order to loosen the social sensitivity in the Gemlik march. Prints and such news are two sides of the coin. The goal is to keep the struggling forces out of the fight. In fact, increasing pressure every day proves that the news of the Imrali meeting was put forward for a special war purpose. İbrahim Kalın, who is one of Tayyip Erdoğan’s special war team and also carries out the propaganda task, has revealed this reality by saying that all his policies and efforts are to liquidate the Freedom Movement.
Although İbrahim Kalın says our aim is to oppress, intimidate and silence them, they cannot achieve this aim and they see a more determined people’s reality and HDP in front of them. As a matter of fact, HDP’s provincial and district congresses take the form of a complete challenge. Although they want to prevent this with pressure and arrests, it is seen that the HDP congress will be stronger. Although they increase the pressure on all political forces and circles close to the HDP, wider sections of the HDP want to take part in the struggle for democracy together with the HDP. The HDP will also include the broader democratic forces and will thwart the policies that want to limit the HDP to Kurdistan and the Kurds. HDP will become stronger with the congress to be held on 3 July. This will result if the HDP establishes relations with the widest social segments and increases its efforts in this direction.
